Earth formation heating apparatus

Patent · Mon Sep 20 04:00:00 EDT 1971

OSTI ID:5464407

Leeper, J L

Heated gases and steam are injected into a well bore for heating oil and earth formations. This is accomplished by forming a combustion chamber having a fuel injection end and an exhaust port connected with tubing extending into a well bore. Water injected into a jacket surrounding the combustion chamber is converted into steam by the heat of combustion and is injected into the stream of heated gases emitting from the exhaust port to reduce the temperature of these gases to approx. 700/sup 0/F. Fuel used in combustion consists of a small amount of gas and air mixed with fuel oil. The heated gases are usually injected into the casing surrounding the tubing in a pumping oil well which melts any accumulation of paraffin within the tubing and reduces the viscosity of the oil in the oil-bearing formation. (2 claims)

• Assignee: EDB-82-107543
• Patent Number(s): US 3605885
• OSTI ID: 5464407
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
AIR
ALKANES
BOILERS
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
CONTROL
DESIGN
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXHAUST GASES
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FUEL OILS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEATING
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUID FUELS
OIL WELLS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARAFFIN
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PUMPING
RECOVERY
REMOVAL
STEAM GENERATORS
STEAM INJECTION
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMODYNAMICS
VAPOR GENERATORS
VISCOSITY
WASTES
WAXES
WELL CASINGS
WELLS